Valve mechanism.



F. SAMUELSON.

VALVE MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1909. 1,106,895. Patented Aug.11,191&

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Witnesses: Inventor:

v Fr-edericKSamuelson, W44 W 5 Jfltfig.

F. SAMUELSON.

VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1909.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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: Inventor fiedericKsamuels n \kn esses FBEDERIGK SAMUELSON, 0F RUGBY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF.l\TEW YORK.

VALVE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ange llll, lbfiiii.

Application filed February 1, 1909. Serial No. 475,420.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FREDERICK SAMUEL- sou, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Rugby, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

t This invention relates to valve mechanism for controlling the supply of steamer other motive iiuid to a prime mover such for ex ample as a turbine, and'more particularly to turbines normally using steam at rela t-ively low pressure received from any suitable source such as the exhaust of a high pressure turbine or reciprocating engine.

In cases where a low pressure turbine is operated as above described, it happens at times that the supply of low pressure motive fluid is insufiicient for the work required of the turbine and et it may not be advantageous or desira le to provide a separate hi h ressure sta e and valve ear to su b P a The valve mechanism. in the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein comprises a low pressure equilibrium valve for normally admitting low pressure steam to the turbine a high pressure balanced piston valve mounted on; the same spindle the equilibrium valve for admitting steam from boiler or other source at higher pressure to casing of the low pressure valve sup lament the low pressure supply when'conditions rep e it, the high pressure being ht to a lower pressure before entering e "30th valves are operated by a hydraulic relay cylinder contro d by a governor or vwe, andthe valves are so arranged on their spindle that the high pressure valve does not open until the low.

pressure valve is opened su'fliciently far to pass steam up to the full capacity of the supply pipe. Under these conditions, so long as there is a supply of low pressure steam equal to the demand on the turbine, the speed is kept up and no high pressure steam is supplied, but if the supply is not sufiicient, the speed falls and the valve opening more, the requisite quantity of steam from the high pressure source is supplied to the turbine. The high pressure valve is also of use for starting up when with a self-contained plant no power is available for the air and circulating pump motors until the turbine is running. In this case, the low pressure supply pipe is shut off and as when the turbine is standing idle the high pressure valve is wide open, on turning on the high pressure steam the turbine starts up non-con densing. When up to speed and a vacuum has been obtained, the low pressure supply can be opened up so that the turbine will operate in its normal manner.

In the accompanying drawing illust'ating one of the embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a power system including a reciprocating engine and low ressure turbine provided with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the valve mechanism supplying stea l to the turbine.

The non-condensing reciprocating engine 3 receives live steam from. any suitable source through the conduit l. The exhaust from its cylinder passes into the conduit 5 provided with a stop valve 6. in th s duit between the stop valve low pressure turbine '7 is iocatet'. the valve mechanism 8 for regulati the supply oi motive fluid to said turb r9 An accur for storing exhaust steam in excess demand of the turbine may be c or form a p; of the conduit its stored energy to the turbine f ant the supply from the engine uuc tain conditions. The turbine 2 any well known construction.

valve m and a condenser 9 and the usual auxiliary apparatus, and may drive any suitable load such as an electric generator. The motors for the auxiliary apparatus may be driven by the current from the generator, if desired.

In Fig. 2 both the high and low pressure supply valves are illustrated at the top of their movement with the steam entirely shut off. 10 indicates a valve casing for thelow pressure. supply valve having an inlet 11 receiving low pressure steam from the conduit and an outlet 12 through which steam passes to the turbine. Mounted onor formin a part of the casing is another casing 13. f0r the high pressure supply valve provided with an inlet 14.- for the high pressure steam supply from a conduit 15 leading from any suitable source which may be the same source as that for the engine 3 ifdesired. The low pressure valve 16 and the high pressure valve 17 are secured in fixed relation on the lower' portion of a common stem 18. The heads of the balanced low pressure valve 16 are indicated at 19, while the high ressure valve 17 consists of two piston hea s 20 connected. by a hollow stem 21 surrounding the main valve spindle l8 and having a bore of larger diameter than the spindle. Ducts or passages 22 connect the clearance between the spindle 18 and thebore of the stem 21 with the space 23 below thelower head 20 and with the space 24 above the upper head 20, and serve to equalize the pressure on its opposite ends and thus balance the valve 17. The casing 13 is provided with a sleeve 25 within which the valve 17 is located. This sleeve has two sets of ports 26, 27, the flow through which is controlled by said valve. The valve stem 18 has a suitable stutfing box 28 that prevents leakageto the atmosphere. Supported on the casing 13 is a hydraulic cylinder 29 provided with'a piston 30 secured to the valve stem 18. The admission of liquid under pressure to this cylinder to move the piston and the valves connected therewith is regulated. in any well known manner by suitable mechanism under the control of a speed responsive device driven directly or indirectly from the'turbine shaft.

32 indicates a speed governor driven by the turbine. The sliding collar 33 of the governor actuates the lever 34, one end of which is pivotally attached to the piston rod 18 to form a follow-u device. To the leveris attached a rod 35 or actuating the pilot valve 36, the latterserving to control the admission of fluid to and .its escape from. the cylinder 29 of the motor. Fluid under.

Fig. 2, and opened to a greater or less extent under the control of the governing mechanism 'of the turbine to permit steam to flow from the conduit 5 through the valve casing 10 to the turbine. Steam at high pressure from the conduit 15 passes through the inlet port 14 to the annular space 31 surrounding the sleeve 25 and thence through the low pressure steam is insuflicient to mamtainthe desired speed of the turbine the valves will be moved still farther downward so that the lower piston 20 uncovers the ports 27 and permits steam from the high pressure source to pass into the main valve casing whence it flows through the valve 16 to the turbine with the low pres-' sure supply. In passing through the ports 27 the steam is expanded and throttled down to a pressure corresponding to the by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

ports 26 to the space between the heads 20. When the supply of- 1. In combination, aprime mover which receives motive fluid from a plurality of sources at different ressures, a governor controlled valve whic regulates the admission of fluid from a source at relatively low pressure to said prime mover, andmeans also controlled by the governor for admitting fluid from a source at higher pressure through said valve to the prime mover when the supply of low pressure steam is insuflicient to drive the load.

2. In combination, a prime mover which receives motivefiuid from two'sources at different ressures, a governor con trolled valve WhlCh regulates the admlsslon of fluid from a source at relatlvely low pressure to the prime mover, and a second valve 7 also controlled by the governor which admits fluid from. a source at higher pressure through the first valve to the prime mover I I when the supply of low pressure fluid is insuflicient to drive the load, said second valve reducing the pressure of the high pressur fluid before it enters the turbine. I

3. In combination, a prime mover which receives motive fluid'from two sources at different pressures, a vvalve regulating the supply of fluid from a source at relatively low pressure to the prime mover, and a second valve in longitudinal alinement with the first valve which admits fluid from ,a

source at higher pressure when the supply mosses of low pressure fluid is insuflicient to drive the load, themotive fluid from the second valve passing through the first and being delivered to the prime mover by the same conduit as the low-pressure fluid.

4. In combination, a prime mover which receives motive fluid from two sources at different pressures, a valve which regulates the admission of fluid from a source at relatively low pressure to the prime mover, a stem for the valve, a second valve actuated by said stem which admits fluid from a source at higher pressure to the prime mover when the supply of fluid at low pressure is insuflicient to drive the load, and a conduit which receives the motive fluid from both valves and delivers it to the same part of the prime mover.

5; In combination, a prime mover which receives motive fluid from two sources at different pressures, a governor controlled valve which regulates the admission of fluid from a source .at relatively low pressure to the prime mover, a stem for the valve, a sec-- ond valve mounted on sald stem which admits fluid from a source at higher pressure to the prime mover when the supply of low pressure fluid is insuflicient to drive the load, the .motive fluid from the second valve passing through the first, and a conduit that is common to and receives the fluid from both sources after it passes through the valves.

6. In combination, a prime mover which receives motive fluid from two sources at diflerent pressures, a governor controlled valve which regulates the admission of fluid from a source at relatively low pressure to the prime mover, a stem for the valve, and a second valve mountedon said stem and controlled by the governor which admits fluid from a source at higher pressure when the supply of low pressure fluid is insufiicient to drive the load, said second valve reducing the pressure of the high pressure fluid before it enters, the prime mover.

7. In combination, a prime mover which receives motive fluid from two sources at d-iflerent pressures, a valve for regulating the flow of fluid from a source at relatively opened by the motor to permit full flow theret-hrough before the high pressurevalve is opened.

l 8. In combination, a prime niover which receives motive fluid from two sources at different pressures, a valve casing, a valve therein for regulating the flow of fluid from a source at relatively low pressure to the prime mover, a stem for the valve, a sleeve mounted in the casing and provided with ports, a second valve on the stem which regulates the flow through said ports from a source of fluid at higher pressure, the pressure of said fluid being reduced as it flows through said ports to the prime mover, and a governor-controlled motor for actuating the valves which opens the secondvalve after the first has been opened to permit a full flow therethrough, said motor comprising a cylinder mounted on the casing, and a piston in the cylinder which, is secured to the stem.

9. In combination, a high pressure engine, a low' pressure engine receiving motive fluid from the exhaust of the high pressure engine, a governor-controlled valve which regulates the admission of the exhaust fluid to the inlet end of the low pressure engine, a second valve controlled by the governor which admits fluid from a source at higher pressure to said inlet end when the supply of exhaust fluid is insuflicient to drive the load on the low pressure engine, communicating casings for the valves through which fluid flows from one to the other, and a motor that is common to and actuates both valves.

10. In combination, a high pressure engine, a low pressure turbine receiving motive fluid from the exhaust of the engine, a balanced valve controlling the admission of exhaust fluid from the engine to the turbine, a stem for the valve, and a second balanced valve mounted on said stem for admitting fluid from a source at higher pressure to the turbine under certain conditions, said second valve expanding the fluid admitted through the second valve down to a suitable pressure before it enters the turbine.

11. In combination, a high pressure engine, a low pressure turbine, a conduit supplying exhaust steam from the engine to the turbine, a valve casing in the conduit adjacent the turbine through which steam flows to said turbine, a balanced valve in the casing which regulates the flow of exhaust steam to the turbine, a stem for the valve, and a second balanced valve on said stem which regulates the flow of steam from a source of higher pressure to said casing, said second valve reducing the pressure of the high pressure steam before it enters said cas mg.

\ 12. In combination, a high pressure reciprocating engine, a low pressure turbine, a conduit supplying exhaust steam from the engine to the turbine, a stop valve in the condult, a governor controlled valve mechanism in the conduit between the stop valve and the turbine which regulates the flow of exhaust steam to the turbine and supplies steam from a source of steam at higher pressure when the supply of exhaust steam is insuficient to drive the load on the turbine, a, conduit supplying high pressure steam to said valve mechanism, a stop valve in said conduit, a condenser, a conduit between the turbine and the con- 4 denser, a free-exhaust conduit leading from the turbine to the atmosphere, and a valve controlling said tree-exhaust conduit.

- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January,

FREDERICK SAMUELSON. Witnesses:

CHARLES H. FULLER, J. A. FOSTER. 

